Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully written but watch out for age-appropriateness!
Review: The story of the sorceress who is forced out of her healing capacity and into one far more sinister is the classic journey of the soul theme. Napoli skillfully weaves fantasy and human emotion and her descriptions - especially of the inner turmoil suffered by this anti-hero, "the Ugly Sorceress", are compelling. However, I would like to add a cautionary note - especially to educators - that I do not necessarily feel that this book is appropriate for 11 years and up. I would put it more at 13 or 14 and up. The level of sophistication of the plot and language is perhaps a bit overwhelming for an 11 year-old to handle. In the multicultural world we live in, there are also a number of references which I think might cause philosophical differences with parents as well!
Rating: 
Summary: A short but poignant tale.
Review: This is a haunting little story of courage, pride, and redemption. Although the story sits loosely on the framework of the tale of Hansel and Gretel, it is a different story altogether.This is the story of an ugly, hunchbacked woman, with a deep appreciation of the beauty which she will never have. Through love for her beautiful daughter, and the wish to give her beautiful things, the Ugly One (as her neighbors call her) is tempted into the dangerous healing arts, and dealings with devils. And devils are always tricky... The story is told in lyrical, lovely prose which adds to the sense of magic and antiquity. It is a gripping, short book, that is difficult to put down until its wrenching end. The story examines the concept of personal pride closely, with some religious overtones.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than most of napoli's books.
Review: This was a very easy read. Instead of interpreting the story of Hansel and Gretel, Napoli rewrote it. the authur had interresting ideas, but they didn't ring true for me.
Rating:
Summary: totally impressed
Review: This was an absolutely incredible book. I was impressed beyond words by it, but then again, I'm impressed by pretty much everything Jo Napoli has written. I didn't read this book until I was (I think) about 12 or so, and it might be too much for little kids to handle. But overall, the themes surrounding love, hope, and redemption are amazing. I would definitely suggest this to anyone. Well done, Ms. Napoli!
Rating:
Summary: totally impressed
Review: This was an absolutely incredible book. I was impressed beyond words by it, but then again, I'm impressed by pretty much everything Jo Napoli has written. I didn't read this book until I was (I think) about 12 or so, and it might be too much for little kids to handle. But overall, the themes surrounding love, hope, and redemption are amazing. I would definitely suggest this to anyone. Well done, Ms. Napoli!
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful retelling
Review: While the short length of this book may make some people believe that this is a book for children, quite far from it. A dark retelling of the traditional "Hansel and Gretel," Napoli shows true talent in the twists of this story. She manages to combine the beautiful with the evil, telling the story of a good woman who sells her soul to save her daughter, and then hides herself so she won't be forced to do horrible things to people. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under eleven...its very dark, but uplifting and touching, too.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful retelling
Review: While the short length of this book may make some people believe that this is a book for children, quite far from it. A dark retelling of the traditional "Hansel and Gretel," Napoli shows true talent in the twists of this story. She manages to combine the beautiful with the evil, telling the story of a good woman who sells her soul to save her daughter, and then hides herself so she won't be forced to do horrible things to people. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under eleven...its very dark, but uplifting and touching, too.
Rating:
Summary: terrific beauty.
Review: without ranking among any of my favorites, this book stuck in my memory anyhow, just with napoli's incomparable way of invoking the most appropriately perfect and beautiful images. it's for that if nothing else that i marvel at this book. taken simply as a story, "the magic circle" is just that--simple. clear cut, clear point, even the twist arrives with the sharpest warning. but napoli's language turns into heavy gold, thickly incrusted with jewel-images of the raw beauty of pinecones, mica sheets, a daughter, wild gorse. the language is perfect, absolutely. too strong and potent to be wistfully "lyrical" it manages at the same time to stay grounded without by not becoming overly sentimental, so that when the old woman tells of her loss, more bitter than self-pitying, it is all the more tragic. the writing makes the book itself as beautiful, definitely worth reading.
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